Interstate 8

This freeway entrance shield assembly for Interstate 8 east is posted on Pine Valley Road near the unincorporated community of Pine Valley. Photo taken 04/19/08.

I-8 is the main east-west Interstate highway serving the San Diego metropolitan area. It begins at the foot of the San Diego River at Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, and it leads east across the Imperial Desert into Arizona. For most of its route, Interstate 8 replaced U.S. 80, which used to extend all the way to San Diego, but was eventually truncated in stages to Mesquite, Texas.

San Diego County

The following is a synopsis of the history of Interstate 8 in the San Diego metropolitan area:

1954. U.S. 80 routed along El Cajon Boulevard and Washington Street through the City of San Diego. U.S. 80 merges with the new Cabrillo Freeway (Old U.S. 395/California 163) at the Washington Street-Cabrillo Freeway interchange.

Around 1957. Construction began on U.S. 80 freeway between U.S. 395 (California 163) and Ward Road (Future Interstate 15) and Mission Gorge Road.

1958. Six-lane U.S. 80 freeway completed between 70th Street and Baltimore Avenue, with plans to extend the highway to the Grossmont Summit and California 67 (now California 125).

1958-1959. Contract let to construct U.S. 80 freeway between U.S. 101 (Pacific Highway, now Interstate 5) and U.S. 395 (California 163) at a projected cost of $1,214,000 for 1.3 miles of eight-lane freeway. Due to the rapid rise of motels in this section of Mission Valley, land prices begin to climb.

1959. With rights-of-way acquisition completed, construction is underway for U.S. 80 freeway between Chase and Magnolia Avenues.

1959-1960. The Grossmont Summit section of the U.S. 80 freeway is completed at a cost of $3,594,000 between La Mesa Boulevard and Chase Avenue in El Cajon. This segment includes one section with 18 lanes side-by-side, which was unprecedented in the early 1960s. At the same time, the budget for Fiscal Year 1960 includes appropriation for the 2.32-mile section between Baltimore Drive and La Mesa Boulevard.

Early 1960s. Most sections of U.S. 80 freeway are completed between U.S. 101 and the City of El Cajon. The Alvarado Canyon section of U.S. 80, 2.6 miles of six-lane freeway between Waring Drive and Lake Murray Drive (70th Street), replaced a City arterial street. The City planned that Alvarado Canyon Road would be replaced with a freeway, so it acquired much of the necessary rights-of-way (ROW) through this stretch.

1962. U.S. 80 Business routed along El Cajon Boulevard (old U.S. 80) according to 1962 Texaco map of San Diego.

1964. Great Renumbering of 1964. U.S. 80 freeway is officially renamed to Interstate 8, although U.S. 80 signs would remain along the freeway until 1972. A 1966 Mobil Map illustrates Interstate 8 and U.S. 80 as cosigned along the Mission Valley and Alvarado Freeways.

1967. U.S. 80 Business (El Cajon Boulevard) now known as Business Loop I-8 between U.S. 395 freeway and La Mesa. The now-constructed Ocean Beach Freeway is shown on a 1967 Thomas Brothers Guide as California 109, a designation that went away by 1971.

1971. Interstate 8 extended west to meet Sunset Cliffs and Nimitz Boulevards over California 109 (the Ocean Beach Freeway). Some maps still carried the California 109 designation over this freeway as late as 1975, but most maps showed this route as part of Interstate 8 in 1971.

1972. Last vestiges of U.S. 80 are removed from the Interstate 8 freeway.

1997-1998. Concrete freeway rehabilitated from the City of El Cajon east to California 163. This was accomplished by removing a thin layer of concrete off the top of the roadway, which promoted a smoother, quieter freeway.

January 1999. Overhead sign for Business Loop I-8 (Washington Street) exit from northbound California 163 removed as part of construction project. It is unlikely that this sign will be replaced.

In the Mission Valley community of the city of San Diego, these freeway entrance shields sign the route from eastbound Camino del Rio North to Interstate 8 west. Photo taken 07/24/10. Second photo taken 10/10/05. Third photo taken 10/10/05.

Leaving the Mission Valley Center shopping center at Camino del Rio, this small guide sign shows the direction to the on-ramp for Interstate 8 and Interstate 15. Photo taken 07/24/10.

La Mesa

The Interstate 8 freeway entrance from Jackson Drive in La Mesa. Photo taken July 2000.

La Mesa - Spring Street north

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Spring Street north in La Mesa at the eastbound on-ramp to Interstate 8 for El Cajon and El Centro. Photos taken 05/08/05.

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Passing under a ramp connecting to Interstate 8, northbound Spring Street splits between I-8 west to San Diego and Center Street north to Grossmont in La Mesa. Photos taken 02/21/05.

This set of freeway entrance shields is posted at the Vista Point located at Exit 34 (just east of the East Willows Road interchange). The Vista Point here is notable for being part of the original alignment of U.S. 80 before it was superseded by the freeway. Photo taken 03/12/05.

El Cajon

Interstate 8 button copy sign located along Second Street (SR 54) south in El Cajon. Photo taken July 2000.

Pine Valley

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Although a rare occurrence, snow sometimes falls on Interstate 8 as it traverses higher elevations near Pine Valley and Laguna Summit. Photos taken 03/12/06.

Pine Valley Creek Bridge (Nello Irwin Greer Memorial Bridge)

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The Pine Valley Creek Bridge, also known as the Nello Irwin Greer Memorial Bridge, is a reinforced concrete box girder span located between Exits 40 and 45. The bridge is approximately 450 feet above ground level at its highest point, and around 1,700 feet long. It was built in 1974 as part of the realigned Interstate 8, which originally slated to travel through Pine Valley. Photos taken 01/19/01.

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This series of pictures shows the Nello Irwin Greer Memorial Bridge as seen from several vantage points. Y-shaped pillars support the bridge from valley floor, carrying both roadways of Interstate 8. Prior to the construction of this span, plans outlined I-8 entering enter Pine Valley along what is now SR 79 and Historic U.S. 80. Photos taken 01/19/01.

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The Pine Valley Creek Bridge was named in 2007 after Mr. Greer, the project engineer for Caltrans who was involved in designing the span and rerouting Interstate 8 out of Pine Valley and onto the ridge. The span closes occasionally during strong winter storms and dangerous during high wind conditions, such as Santa Ana Winds. Photos taken 01/19/01.

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These pictures also show the substructure and towers that support the Pine Valley Creek Bridge (Nello Irwin Greer Memorial Bridge) along Interstate 8. Photos taken 01/19/01.

Pine Valley - Pine Valley Road

In the unincorporated community of Pine Valley, this sign stands on northbound Pine Valley Road. El Centro and San Diego are the control cities for most of Interstate 8 across San Diego and Imperial Counties. Photo taken 04/19/08.

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Pine Valley Road north passes below the spans of the Interstate 8 mainline. Photos taken 04/19/08.

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Northbound Pine Valley Road at the westbound off-ramp to I-8. Photos taken 04/19/08.

Pine Valley Road south at the westbound on-ramp for I-8 to San Diego. Photo taken 04/19/08.

This guide sign on Pine Valley Road south was probably placed in the 1990s before the retroreflective sheeting became standard for all new Caltrans signs in 1999. Photo taken 04/19/08.

Buckman Springs Rest Area

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The Buckman Springs Rest Area is located in the median of Interstate 8 at the Buckman Springs Road interchange (Exit 51). The rest area was refurbished and renovated in 2010-2011, reopening on July 1, 2011. Photos taken 02/11/02, 11/10/02.

This Interstate 8 guide sign is posted at the exit from Buckman Springs Rest Area. Buckman Springs Road south connects with I-8 east to El Centro and CR S-1 south to Campo. Buckman Springs Road north links with I-8 west to San Diego. Photo taken 02/11/02.

Northbound Buckman Springs Road approaches the on-ramp for Interstate 8 east to El Centro. The entrance to the Buckman Springs Rest Area follows. Photo taken 02/11/02.

Continuing beyond the I-8 eastbound overpass, northbound Buckman Springs Road intersects the entrance to Buckman Springs Rest Area. The rest area lies between the I-8 roadways within a diamond interchange. Photo taken 02/11/02.

This view looks north on Buckman Springs Road near the entrance to the Buckman Springs Rest Area toward the bridge carrying westbound Interstate 8 over Buckman Springs Road. A left turn connects to Interstate 8 west to San Diego. Photo taken 02/11/02.

Cameron Station and Kitchen Creek Road

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The Kitchen Creek Road interchange (Exit 54) with Interstate 8 is located southeast of the Buckman Springs Road interchange near Cameron Station. To the north, Kitchen Creek Road travels to Cameron Fire Station and a locked gate near Sheephead Mountain. Bicyclists commonly use this lightly traveled road, mostly because it concludes at a dead end. If not for the gate, motorists could ascend to the Sunrise Highway via northbound Kitchen Creek Road, but the road is too narrow for through traffic. To the south, Kitchen Creek Road connects with Old Highway 80. This series of pictures shows the signage in and around the diamond interchange between Interstate 8 and Kitchen Creek Road. Photos taken 04/20/13.

La Posta Road Bridge

La Posta Road travels under Interstate 8 near the unincorporated community of Cameron Corners just north of Old U.S. 80. This bridge was constructed along with the Interstate highway on January 23, 1974. Seismic retrofit work was completed on June 16, 1997. This photo shows both the eastbound and westbound bridges Photo taken 04/19/08.

Traveling north on La Posta Road, this view shows the west end of the long westbound Interstate 8 bridge over La Posta Road. North of this bridge, La Posta Road changes names to Thing Valley Road. Photo taken 04/19/08.

Looking south, this view shows La Posta Road traveling under the eastbound lanes of Interstate 8. The stop sign in the distance is for Old Highway 80 (U.S. 80). Photo taken 04/19/08.

The west end of the eastbound Interstate 8 bridge looking south along La Posta Road. Photo taken 04/19/08.

This view looks at the under structure for the bridge carrying eastbound lanes over La Posta Road. Photo taken 04/19/08.

Desert View Tower

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The Desert View Tower looks over the vast desert horizon from its perch above Interstate 8 and the In-Ko-pah Gorge. Built between 1922 and 1928 by Bert Vaughn (who at that time owned the nearby town of Jacumba), the Desert View Tower is a well-known landmark for travelers along Historic U.S. 80, the Boulevard of America. The tower is open for visitors for a nominal fee. Photos taken 01/15/07.

Built between 1922 and 1928 by Bert Vaughn (who at that time owned the nearby town of Jacumba), the Desert View Tower is a well-known landmark for travelers along Historic U.S. 80, the Boulevard of America. The tower was built to honor the railroad and highway builders who opened this area for travelers. Nearby rock sculptures were carved by W.T. Ratcliffe, an engineer, during the 1930s. Photo taken 01/15/07.

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Viewing Desert View Tower from the south. Photos taken 04/19/08.

Looking north at the tower. The wind was howling on this day, after a winter storm passed through the area. Photo taken 01/15/07.

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The "desert view" promised by the aptly named Desert View Tower can be seen in nearly all directions from the tower, but the most dramatic and compelling views look east toward In-Ko-Pah Gorge and the Imperial Valley. Since Interstate 8 passes directly below the tower, a fence prevents people from accidentally traveling too far away from the tower and falling to the freeway below. Affixed to one of these safety fences is this old 3,000-foot elevation sign, which was probably located along Old U.S. 80 at some point in the past. By 2011, the 3,000-foot elevation sign had been moved inside the Tower and is no longer posted on the fence. Photos taken 04/19/08.

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Looking east from the Desert View Tower, the alignments of Interstate 8 east and west split after the Mountain Springs Road interchange (Exit 80). In the distance is the Salton Sea. Photos taken 01/15/07.

The Mountain Springs Road interchange (Exit 80) as seen from the Desert View Tower overlook. Old alignments of U.S. 80 (single and twin slab concrete) can be found at this interchange, but not all of it runs on public land. Photo taken 01/15/07.

Abandoned Rest Area near Milepost 79

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An abandoned rest area overlooking In-Ko-Pah Gorge is located along Interstate 8 eastbound at Milepost 79. There were no facilities to this location. Photos taken October 2000.

Mountain Springs

This freeway entrance for Interstate 8 is posted at the Mountain Springs Road interchange west of Ocotillo and east of the Desert View Tower. Mountain Springs Road provides local and ranch access, and it connects to several extant segments of Historic U.S. 80 that are no longer in active use. This is the lone interchange between In-Ko-Pah Road near the top of the In-Ko-Pah Canyon grade and California 98 at the bottom of the grade. Photo taken 04/20/13.

Ocotillo

This freeway entrance shield for Interstate 8 east is posted on Imperial County S-2 (Imperial Highway) near the unincorporated community of Ocotillo at Exit 89. Photo taken 04/19/08.

El Centro

This cylindrical building located in El Centro on the south side of Interstate 8 near the interchange (Exit 116) with CR S-31 (Dogwood Road) shows Sea Level. A shopping center was eventually developed behind this tank between 2000 and 2010. Photo taken 04/20/13.

Imperial (Algodones) Sand Dunes at Buttercup Valley

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The Imperial Sand Dunes are located along Interstate 8 near Gray's Well between Exits 151 and 159. The dunes are popular with sports enthusiasts and off-road riders. A campground is located near the base of dunes, and it is not uncommon to spot riders of all-terrain vehicles up at daybreak taking their four-wheelers into the dune sea. Photos taken October 2000.

All American Canal Bridge near Milepost 153

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This suite of photos provides views of the All-American Canal Bridge near Milepost 153 just east of Grays Well Road. This bridge features a unique steel superstructure that is only visible to those on foot or using the canal service road. Without water, the Imperial Valley would not be able to produce one-seventh of the nation's table vegetables. The All-American Canal carries water from the Colorado River west into the valley, providing farmers with the resources they need to grow a wide variety of crops in the hot desert. Photos taken 01/19/01.